Las Cruces Bulldawgs host Rio Rancho in playoff opener Friday

The Las Cruces Bulldawgs open the Class 6A state football playoffs Friday, Nov. 6, hosting the Rio Rancho Rams at the Field of Dreams.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. The game will stream live on LCPS TV, according to a Las Cruces Public Schools post on X.

The Bulldawgs enter as the No. 8 seed with a 7-3 record. Rio Rancho is the No. 9 seed at 5-5. The New Mexico Activities Association announced the 2026 playoff brackets Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.

The two teams met once already this season. Las Cruces beat Rio Rancho 14-7 in the Aug. 21 season opener, the Sun-News reported.

A win Friday would send the Bulldawgs to the quarterfinals against No. 1-seed Cleveland.

Season in review

Coach Mark Lopez's squad started the year 5-0 and earned a No. 2 ranking in New Mexico from MaxPreps in late September, according to the Las Cruces Bulletin. Junior quarterback Aldo Gallegos rushed for 110 yards and threw for 71 in a 42-7 win over Organ Mountain on Sept. 18. Chris Gomez scored three rushing touchdowns in that game.

The Bulldawgs hit a rough stretch in October. They fell 28-14 to Volcano Vista and dropped to 6-2, the Bulletin reported Oct. 23. The regular-season finale against rival Centennial on Oct. 30 loomed large. Kurt Johnson, general manager and executive editor of the Las Cruces Bulletin, called it "kind of a must-win" for Las Cruces playoff positioning during an appearance on KRWG published Oct. 29.

Las Cruces finished the regular season 7-3, according to the Sun-News bracket report.

Bigger picture

Lopez guided the Bulldawgs to a 12-1 record last season and a berth in the 6A state championship game, where they fell to Cleveland, the Sun-News reported in its preseason schedule preview. Cleveland is again the No. 1 seed this year and would be the quarterfinal opponent if Las Cruces advances.

Fellow Las Cruces school Centennial earned the No. 4 seed at 6-4 and received a first-round bye. The Hawks will face the winner of No. 5 Sandia and No. 12 Farmington in the quarterfinals.